The Andrews Labor Government is improving quality in the training system even further with new, tougher contracts being offered to training providers for next year.
More than 300 quality training providers have been offered contracts to deliver government-funded training in 2017 under Skills First – the Labor Government’s new approach to training and TAFE in Victoria.
Contracts were offered by the Department of Education and Training following a rigorous selection process where providers had to show evidence of their ability to deliver quality training.
Providers also had to prove their strong organisational capability and clearly demonstrate their financial viability.
The Labor Government is putting people first – ensuring students and industry have renewed confidence in government-funded training after the Liberals left the system to languish.
All contracts are for a single year as the Government wants to ensure its major reforms are having the desired outcome.
The offering of contracts is a major step in the roll out of Skills First, which puts TAFE at the centre of the more managed training system, while still giving Victorians the choice to train with quality public, community and private training providers.
Under the new Skills First approach, which will come into effect in January, only courses that are most likely to lead to jobs will be supported.
Registered training providers that did not receive a 2017 Victorian Government training contract can still deliver fee-for-service training in Victoria and can consider applying again for a 2018 contract.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“Students and industry need to have faith in our training system. That’s why we’re only offering contracts to providers who meet the toughest compliance criteria in the country.”
“The Andrews Labor Government has made it clear that providers need to satisfy new rigorous quality standards and we make no excuse for putting quality first.”
“Skills First – our new approach to training and TAFE – will ensure public funds are spent effectively, and that students get real training that leads to real jobs.”